PC Band at 2021 competition

“Music has charms to soothe the savage beast.” Those famous words were spoken by one of the characters of the 1697 play “The Morning Bride,” by William Congreve. Over the centuries, these words have been reiterated in various situations in reference to the calming effects music has played over time. However, as we know, music can also cause heightened levels of excitement, motivation to take action and even go to battle, or other intense emotions of joy or sadness and even cause us to remember bygone times. In towns and cities across America, orchestras, bands, jazz ensembles, and musical groups of all kinds help define our culture and society with hundreds of different genres of music and in settings that range from concert halls to outdoor festivals and parades to sporting events or private settings like our households. Likewise, the producers of musical tones range in age and talent from childhood songs belted out by toddlers to full symphonies by professional instrumentalists and operas performed by the greatest singers in the world. Somewhere along this spectrum of talent and age is the high school band. Although the school band can take the shape of a concert band, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, pep band or a collection of soloists and small groups, the marching band is often the group that brings the bulk of the recognition to the school it represents. In our immediate area and throughout West Virginia and many surrounding states, we have been blessed to experience some of the best marching bands for many decades. And in the town of Paden City, where the mighty Wildcat Marching Band, often referred to as the Pride of Paden City and the Biggest Little Band in the Land, reigns, the effect of music is anything but soothing. The Wildcat band has for decades elevated the pride of the town of Paden City and the entire Wildcat Nation throughout the United States. In particular, the marching band often brings out a heightened level of competitiveness, some might say even aggressiveness, as the Wildcats continue to compete at a high level, winning top awards wherever they compete and against bands from schools of all sizes (nearly all of them larger than PCHS). Breigh Stillwagoner, a senior and Field Commander of this year’s Wildcat band stated, “Marching band is the best part of high school. It teaches us understanding, discipline and patience. We work through heat and sweat while working on our musical abilities. But we know every hardworking moment is worth it as soon as we march on a field to perform for the people who love band.” Junior mellophone player Will McGinnis added, “Band is just fun to do, and it is a great way to connect with other students in settings outside of the classroom. It has helped me academically also.” With respect to marching band McGinnis commented, “I love the precision marching and music and putting them together. I love the competitions and we do get to meet members of bands from other schools.” Aaron Thorn, also a junior and a trombone player summarized by saying, “Band helped me develop a real appreciation for music. I began in the fifth grade and was excited from the moment I started on the trombone. Marching band is like a sport. I could do the competitions forever. It starts with the thrill of boarding the bus for a contest and then marching into the stadium with the stands full of people and then the victory parades through town when we return with a win.” For these band members and the hundreds and thousands of fans of the Wildcat marching band and bands everywhere, music stirs up feelings of excitement and the drive to compete and win. Band serves as a driving force in this community and keeps school and town pride high.

Hard works yields good results: As the current members of the Wildcat band can attest, learning and perfecting a marching musical program is not an easy task and requires hours of practice. The season usually begins as the school year ends in spring with the introduction of the music for the upcoming marching season which normally spans August through late October and into early November. The work then commences in earnest with band camp in August. Senior trumpet player, Serenity Strother put it this way, “Band camp is the best week and the worst week at the same time. You get cold, wet feet marching in the dew on the field in the morning and then hot and sweaty by the afternoon sessions, but you know you are creating something really great so it’s worth it.” Band director, Deb Price summed up band camp this way, “We went into the marching season with high expectations, perhaps not as high as the outcome though. We exceeded our expectations. Band camp was the start of something special.” Thorn added, “Some of us were pretty nervous at the start of the year, having lost many seniors the past two years due to graduation but we pulled through and had one of our best years.” And Talan Chambers chimed in what may be the biggest understatement from the group, “We had a pretty good year.” Field Commander Stillwagoner noted, “This season has been truly amazing. The band has improved tremendously and worked hard for every award. I am proud of my band and see every member as a family.” The accolades earned by the marching band speak for themselves and the band achieved recognition near and far while competing in the West Virginia Oil and Gas parade and band-a-rama in Sistersville, the Hurricane (WV) Whirlwind of Sound competition, the Patriot Marching Band Invitational at Parkersburg South, the Jim Kessler Big Red Band Invitational at Parkersburg High, the West Virginia Marching Band Invitational in Charleston and Phillip-Barbour Horseshoe Classic and Governor’s Cup contests in Philippi, WV. After the dust settled, the band walked (or marched) away with 35 awards while capturing Grand Championship awards at two of the contests and garnering Runner-Up Grand Champion awards at 3 contests including a coveted 3rd Runner-Up to the West Virginia Governor’s Cup. With the grand championship at the WV Marching Band Invitational in Charleston came the title of the West Virginia Blue Division State Champion Band. This is the second time the marching Wildcats have brought this crown home to Paden City. The band won divisional titles in 4 of the 6 contests and snatched 2nd place in its division at one contest. In all, the band never placed below 2nd place in its division, won numerous captioned awards (flags, percussion, field commander, soloist) and placed in the top 5 among all bands, regardless of division or band/school size in every contest they competed. The Oil and Gas Festival contest awarded gold, silver and bronze medals instead of placement awards and the PCHS Wildcats earned Gold in every category and its fans were named the Best Cheering Section at the contest. Sophomore Talan Chambers commented, “We are really proud to get the recognition at the Oil and Gas Festival, earning gold medals in all those categories and the biggest highlight would have to be capturing the Grand Championship at Charleston again.” Not only are the trophy cases and shelves at PCHS getting filled to overflowing, but the band’s bank account also got a boost as the band earned nearly $3,000 in prize money with its winnings this season.

An history of excellence: Attaining high accolades and capturing awards is a mainstay with the PCHS Wildcat band. For decades, the band has flexed its competitive muscles and marched its way through West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states and brought trophies, awards and honors by the truckload back to Paden City. The band has appeared in parades, marching and concert music festivals in many states along with eastern seaboard. In the mid-1960’s the Wildcats represented West Virginia in the Lions Club International convention parade in Miami, Florida. Later in 1973, band made 2 parade appearances in the Sun Fun Festival in Myrtle Beach, SC. Later in 1979 and again 1981, the concert band performed for ratings in The Omni in Atlanta, GA. The band also competed in the Marching Bands of America Pittsburgh Regional several times, twice finishing in the top 10 while competing against marching bands from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina (every year being the smallest band and representing the smallest high school in the competition). In 1982, the band was published in a national marching band magazine. In 1985, the band competed in the Marching Band of America Grand Nationals in Johnson City, TN and finished in the top half of the bands competing there. More recently, the Wildcat band returned to Florida and made marching and concert appearances at Disney Springs, part of the Disneyworld complex where they received rave reviews. Over the years, the band, because of its reputation for excellence, has received invitations to other events that were not feasible for them to attend. For example, in 1982, the band was invited to march in the national St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland and in 1983, the Wildcats were the invited band to represent West Virginia at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA.

All told, the trophy cases at Paden City High School hold over 420 band awards with nearly 90% of those being first place trophies. Some titles include a coveted Grand Championship from the Marietta Band-A-Rama considered the grandaddy of Ohio competitions as it is one of the oldest, several WV Oil and Gas Festival Grand Championships, a grand championship trophy from the Wheeling Cavalcade of Bands, two grand championships from the St. Clairsville invitational, top awards from New Philadelphia, Ripley VikingFest, Athens Invitational contests, national majorette awards and Marching Bands of America regional awards and, of course, the current band’s motherload of championship trophies. Three huge trophy cases are filled to capacity and every shelf space in the band room is loaded with trophies. However, more than the shear number of awards, the accomplishments represent the hard work and dedication, the love of music, the thrill of competing and the bonds formed by band members that carry the most meaning to those involved. This is evident in the number of PCHS band musicians that have earned their spots in the West Virginia All-State band and the two State Championships in the state Stage Band contest (with all bands, regardless of school size, competing together).

A director’s viewpoint: Participation in the band has varied over the decades with numbers ranging from 30 members to 136 marching Wildcats. At one point in the history of the band, when the national average was 10% participation rate of a school’s enrollment, Paden City boasted a participation rate of 1 out of every 2.5 students or 40% of the student body in the marching band.

Of course, a band is not a band without dedicated leaders and directors. The PCHS band has been led by several directors over the past 70 years and the band existed prior to PCHS being a four-year high school. Its directors include Mr. Thomas, Ross “Ed” Hood (25 years), John Nail, Doug Carter, Deb Pollock (first term), Bryon “Buddy” Filben, Malissa Buckovenski, Steven Jones and the current director, Deb (Pollock) Price in her second stint as director of bands. Price added her thoughts by saying, “I am honored to be the director of the Biggest Little Band in the Land. I appreciate the history of the program and hope to carry on the traditions of making our community proud. We participated in 5 parades this year and for me, parades mean a lot. They are a way for us to connect with the community. Kids come out and watch us practice parade marching. Parade practice is where marching fundamentals are taught. I just love to march around town.”

Price’s husband, Brian, comes from a family where all 5 children were members of the PCHS band, and he lends his hand in helping the band achieve its goals. The band also receives help from a support staff during band camp including current and former WVU Mountaineer band members. The Paden City Band Patrons have been a mainstay in the development and financial support of the Wildcat band, spearheading fund-raising efforts for transportation to competitions and special trips, new band uniforms and instruments. They volunteer their time to staff the concession stand at home football games.

In Paden City, the Wildcat band is more than a band. As with any team, the PCHS band began as a band of musicians and through strong leadership and dedication of the musicians, a music program was established. When a program grows and thrives and can adapt to circumstances, overcome obstacles, and still prevail, it becomes an institution. That institution has become a legacy, with generations of Wildcats participating and achieving while playing music and wearing the green and white. With continued support from the community and school administration, strong dedication of student musicians and innovative and talented and qualified directors, the Pride of Paden City, the Wildcat band, can continue to leave a legacy for future generations. Perhaps junior Aaron Thorn summed it best when he said, “I just like giving the town something to be proud of.” The community of Paden City and alumni and supporters of Paden City High School nationwide have good reason to be proud of this year’s band. The current edition of the Wildcat band has carried the tradition proudly, worn the uniform with dignity and maintained the institution that can last for many years to come. We salute the Biggest Little Band in the Land… The Paden City High School Wildcat Band.